Third arrest over offensive Leeds teacher murder posts

Rob Parsons

A THIRD person has been arrested over offensive social media messages about the murder of Leeds schoolteacher Ann Maguire.

A 16-year-old male was arrested yesterday by South Wales Police after West Yorkshire Police were contacted by members of the public raising concerns about an offensive and threatening message.

The youth was later bailed for a psychiatric assessment to be carried out.

Superintendent Sam Millar, who heads community safety partnership Safer Leeds, said: “West Yorkshire Police will continue to take swift and appropriate action against anyone who seeks to abuse and utilise any social media platforms to cause distress and offence.

“At this difficult period for the family of Ann Maguire and communities in West Yorkshire, who have been hugely affected by her death, the message needs to go out that we will do what our communities in West Yorkshire would expect us to.

“We will bring anyone to justice who seeks to cause such distress in these circumstances.”

Mrs Maguire, 61, was stabbed to death in her classroom at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds a week ago.

Earlier this week Robert Riley, from Port Talbot, South Wales, appeared before magistrates in Leeds where he admitted sending a message of a grossly offensive, abusive or malicious character. The case has been transferred to Swansea Magistrates’ Court for sentencing.

Jake Newsome, 21, from the Harehills area of Leeds, was released on bail after being charged over alleged online abuse, police said. He is due to appear before Leeds Magistrates Court on 14 May.

A 15-year-old boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, has been charged with Mrs Maguire’s murder and is due to stand trial in November.